9th Tour Down Under - 2.HC

Australia, January 16-21, 2007

Gerrans prepares for Down Under defence

Strong teams with good form ready for the heat

Before the racing even began in the ninth edition of the Tour Down Under, the
heat was enough to set off the fire alarm during the opening press conference.
Whether that heat came from the sunny temperatures, or the good form from the
marquis riders remains to be seen. Regardless, the pre-race favourites were
positive in their outlooks for a successful beginning to the 2007 racing season.

Defending champion Simon Gerrans (AG2r Prévoyance) was all smiles during
the bombarding from the assembled press corps. Most were asking questions about
the previous day's national championship road race which saw Gerrans ride in
a very early breakaway for about 100 kilometers before being caught. "I
went out pretty hard at the nationals yesterday and played my card pretty early,"
said Gerrans. "When I was out of contention I stepped off feeling there
was no point in rolling around to the finish, thinking I would save a few pennies
for this week."

Gerrans said that his ride yesterday, in addition to his Bay
Series results, shows he is in good form to mount a defence of the title.
"I think I am right on track. I had quite a lot of gym work which was quite
specific to the Bay Series criterium racing. The fact that I was going quite
well in the crits there shows I am going well."

Still, wearing a number one bib is akin to riding with a target, making a repeat
that much more difficult. But he said this only adds to the motivation, something
he learned by repeating his Herald
Sun Tour win last October. "I think I had a little bit of room to move
here, not as an outright favourite," he said of last year's race. "After
winning last year there is a bit of pressure to perform, so that is motivating.
But nothing like have a bit of attention to push you along a bit, so I am trying
to look at it as a positive thing. I took some experience racing the Herald
Sun Tour with a number one on my back - a little more pressure. Hopefully I
can bring that experience here into the Tour Down Under."

Gerrans acknowledged that Stuart O'Grady (Team CSC) was someone he was worried
about. O'Grady is happy to be done with last season which saw him sitting out
the spring classics due to injury. He decided to start this year riding in his
state championship race instead of the national championship.

"The plan was to go there and blow the cobwebs out of the engine, and
I think it was mission accomplished," he said. "It was a slightly
different approach, not competing in the national championships. I was not completely
confident I could go there and win so I preferred to stay with the team and
prepare in a more relaxed way. I feel I made the right choice. You have to be
on good form in January because it is aggressive from the start. I spoke with
Bjarne about it a bit, and he preferred I not go that deep for a one day race
in January."

O'Grady indicated that his team is taking this race, and O'Grady, seriously
- due in large part to the presence of Bjarne Riis at the helm. "The team
has come down, put a lot of respect into the work I did for the team last season;
and Bjarne and the whole team has come down - they would obviously like to see
a stage win or more. I feel better. I'm not probably going as well now as in
previous years but I think it will progress as the tour goes on."

Another strong entry comes from Robbie Hunter, who switched to a smaller team
in Barloworld. "I think I am feeling good. I have had a good pre-season
training back in South Africa. This is a race that is unknown for me. But I
have raced in Australia and I know how the Aussie guys race. I'll try to get
a few results, but it is the start of the season for me - a bigger season hopefully,
since I am racing for a slightly smaller team this year. The intention is to
get more focus on myself and some more results this season."

Also at the press conference was veteran pro Laurent Brochard, captaining the
Bouygues Telecom team. While the temperatures back home are in the single digits,
he said that racing in France in July is quite similar. "We are used to
strong temperatures. And we arrived a week early as well. I am going well and
have been training well. My motivation [racing] here comes from wanting victories.
I started my training earlier this year. If I am in front I will go with it."

The racing begins with a warm-up criterium in Adelaide's east end tomorrow.
Though not counting towards the overall, last year's winner Robbie McEwen is
back and brings with him another strong leadout train in his Predictor-Lotto
team. Follow Cyclingnews' live coverage of every stage, as well as full
race reports and photos every day.